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(1)
where 0 is the permeability of free space (4 10-7 Tm/A) and I is the current in the coil. If the
current is expressed in amperes (A), and the radius in meters (m), the unit of magnetic field strength is
Tesla (T).
In many situations the magnetic field has a value considerably less than one Tesla. For example, the
strength of the magnetic field near the earths surface is approximately 10 -4 T. The more convenient
unit of magnetic field strength is a gauss (1 gauss = 10-4 T).
The direction of the magnetic field at the center of the wire loop can be determined with the help of
RIGHT-HAND-RULE. If the thumb of the right hand is pointed in the direction of the current and the
curled fingers are placed at the center of the loop, the fingers indicate the direction of the magnetic
field.
For a square coil equation (1) has a slightly different constant. In this case the formula for the magnetic
field in the center of the coil is:
(
where a is
(2)
Comparing equation (1) and equation (2) one can notice that there is only about 10 % difference (the
factor
= 0.45).
Objectives:
To study magnetic fields generated by a square shape current carrying coil.
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Equipment:
Computer interface with current and magnetic field sensors; DC power supply; square shape coil unit
(20 turns) with a compass mounted in the center.
Science
Workshop
Interface
Channel A
Power
Supply
Tangent
galvanometer
(coil)
+
I
Bearth
Bcoil
Figure 2. Vector representation of magnetic fields.
Open the pre-set experiment file as directed on the whiteboard. Take measurements of the needle
deflection angle with the plane of the coil vs. current I in the coil. In Graphical Analysis make a plot
of vs. I. Is this graph linear? Now, plot tan vs. I (be sure the preferences in GA are set for angles in
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degrees). From Fig. 2 we have tan = Bcoil /Bearth. Since Bcoil is expected to be proportional to the
current in the coil, so tan = I/Bearth. This can be rewritten as
tan = M I
(3)
field, which affects your measurements adding undesirable nonlinearity. Such situation has to be
avoided.
The sensor has a zero offset and the reading at no current does not necessarily indicate the value of the
ambient field.
Figure 4. Sample recording in Data Studio of magnetic field measurements vs. current in the coil.
The pre-set experiment file is preset to record magnetic field measured by the sensor as a function of
current in the coil. With no current in the circuit (power supply off, voltage adjustment knob at 0) press
Start in the experiment file, then Tare on the magnetic fields sensor, next turn on the power supply
and slowly keep increasing the output voltage from the power supply. Stop the data acquisition at I
0.95 A. Apply the linear fit to your data and compare the slope with the theoretically predicted value
from equation (2). See Figure 3.
Final conclusion:
State the value of the measured horizontal component of the ambient magnetic field at your lab station.
Do your experimental findings support equation (2)? How does the magnetic field of a coil depend on
the current in the coil?
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